Combined belt-pulley and spring.



No. 643,699. Patented Feb. 20, |900. F. VAN DUZEN.

COMBINED BELT PULLEY AND SPRING.

(Application led May 13, 1899.)

(No Model.)

Ivfl llllllllllll1jlllflll Ill/11111111111111111111 rrn Terras FRANK VANDUZEN, OF MARION, OHIO.

COMBINED BELT-PULLEY AND SPRING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 643,699, datedFebruary 20, 1900.

Application iiled May 13, 1.899. Serial No. 716,656. (No model.)

T0 @ZZ whom, t may concern:

t Be it known that I, FRANK VAN DUZEN, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of the city of Marion, in the county of Marion and Stateof Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a CombinedBelt- Pulley and Spring, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is primarily designed for use in connection with pulleysstarted, run, and stopped by a friction-clutch of some kind.Nevertheless my improvements are applicable to belt-pulleys where themotion imparted to them either through their shafts or through theirbelts is of an irregular or inconstant character.

The several features of my invention and the various advantagesresulting from their use, conjointly or otherwise, will be apparent fromthe following description and claim.

In the accompanying drawings similar letters of reference indicatecorresponding parts.

For the purposes of full illustration I have shown in the drawings myinvention as applied to a belt-pulley operated by a frictionclutch.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of such a belt-pulleyprovided with my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse centralsection of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1. This section is taken in theplane of the dotted line 2 2 of Fig. 1. That face of the section isshown which faces toward the right hand in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a centrallongitudinal section of a portion of the mechanism illustrating certainfeatures of my invention, such ligure being shown on a scale about threetimes as large as that on which Figs. 1 and 2 are drawn. Fig. Irepresents a bottom view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 3 and on thesame scale therewith. In connection therewith I have shown by dottedlines the mode wherein the right-hand end of the device is connected tothe wheel. Fig. 5 represents a This figure is on the same scale as Iwill now proceed to describe my invention in detail.

In order to fully describe all of the features ot' my invention, I mustspecify the combination of the latter with the belt-pulley wheel andfriction device. I have therefore selected a belt-pulley wheel of thatkind which is provided with a friction-clutch. There are variousdescriptions of friction-clutches'. Frein among these I have chosen oneof a simple construction.

A indicates a belt-pulley-wheel shell. This consists of the belt-drivingperipheral circumferential portion A2, against which the belt lies, andof the inner sleeve-shell portion A3, concentric with thecircumferential portion A2, and of the spokes or radial extension orbracing A4, whereby the outer portion A2 is connected to the innerportion A2. The inner shell portion may be considered in the nature of ahub relative to the spokes A4 and outer circumferential or felly part A2of the wheel. Within this hub A3 and concentric therewith is a shell B,arranged to rotate close to but loosely within the hub AS. The wheel Ais in the present illustrative instance supported on and by the shell B.The shell B in turn embraces a split sleeve O or expander, dulysupported on and substantially concentric with a shaft. (Not shown.)This friction-sleeve is provided with suitable mechanism, (not shown,but well understood,)where by at the will of the operator thefrictionsleeve binds the shell B and compels the latter to be one withit. If the shell B was in one with the hub A3 of the belt-pulley shellA, then when the pulley-shell A, through the agency of its driving-belt,was running and the expander-sleeve O was clutched with the shell B theexpander-sleeve C and its shaft would forthwith be compelled to run atthe same rate of speed as the belt-pulley shell A. On the other hand, ifthe shaft of the eX- pander-sleeve C was the driving agency and thesleeve O was running, then whenever the expander-sleeve C was clutchedto the shell B the belt-pulley shell would be compelled instantly torotate with the expander-sleeve C and at the same rate of speed. In bothof such modes of starting the parts of such mechanism which are at restthere follows a rude IOO and injurious shock to the parts, oftenresulting in a breakage of the parts and always causing much wear of theportions between which friction occurs-viz., between the expander-sleeveC and the shell B and between the peripheral belt-surface of belt-pulleyshell A and the belt thereon.

One of the principal objects of my invention is to obviate suchinjurious shocks and such rapid wear of the frictional partsaforementioned.

I provide a cylindrical body or tube D, and within this I duly locate aspring E. The latter is preferably a metal one and of the kind known asa coiled spring. The body or tube D has on one end a head F and on theother end a head G. Both of these heads are duly secured to the bodyor'tube D, preferably by the well-known means of screwthreads,substantially as shown. In this event the exterior of these heads orcaps will be sided, so as to afforda hold for a wrench to rotate them inapplying or removing'them. The head G is pivotally connected to anextension or arm B2 of the friction-shell B, and this arm avoids the hubA3, substantially as shown. The preferred means for connecting the headG to the arm B2 are as follows: The head has a yoke having the sidepieces or ends G2 G3. Between these side pieces is received a port-ionB3 of the arm B3. This portion B3 is pivoted at B4 to the side pieces G3G3. Thus the head G and the body or tube D as one is free to oscillateon this pivotal connection. In the head F is a central opening F2 and inthe head G a central opening` G3.

Through the cylinder extends a rod H, and the latter extends beyond thehead F and to the right of the head, as shown. To its right hand issecured a bearing H3, preferably an eye, for connecting it pivotally toa spoke A4 or equivalent portion of the belt-pulley wheel A. Thisbearing H2 is preferably secured to rod H by a screw connection. Thiseye H2 is located between two pieces or cheeks A5 A5, provided thereforon a spoke AA1 or equivalent portion of the belt-pulley wheel A, and abolt H3, passing through the eye and these cheeks, pivotally connectsthe two.

In passing it is to be remarked that the bolts B4 and H3 arerespectively held in place bya split key in the well-known manner ofusing the latter.

An elongated rectangular opening H4 in the bearing H2 affords aconvenient means for enabling the bearing H3 to be screwed upon the endof rod H or to be unscrewed therefrom or to be adj usted to a desiredplace upon the rod.

On the left-hand (free) end of the rod His a flange or shoulder M,preferablyin the form of a rounded bolt-head. Vithin the cylinder D andadjacent to the shoulder M is a perforated disk, ring, or washer N. Thisring N embraces the rod II, substantially as shown. The ring is largerthan the diameter of the opening in the cylinder-head, and thereforeoverlaps the sides of the cylinder end and cannot pass through saidopening. It is also large enough to serve as a bearing for the left-handend of the spring E. At the other end of the spring E and within theright-hand head of the cylinder D is a ring K, forming an abutment,against which the spring abuts and bears. This abutment is fixed bysuitable means, so that it shall reciprocate with the rod H. A preferredmeans of accomplishing this result is shown, and consists of the sleeveJ, embracing the rod H and extended between the ring K and the end ofthe bearing H2 and abutting against the latter. That end of this sleeveJ which is in contact with the ring K is preferably integral with thelatter. \Vhen the rod H and the rings N and K are respectively in thepositions shown in Fig. 3, the spring there normally fills the entirecylinder D. Vhen the rod H is moved toward the left, the ring K pushesthat end of the spring which is adjacent to it toward the left andcompresses the spring between it and the abutment-ring N at the otherend of the cylinder. Vhen the rod II is moved toward the right, theHarige M moves ring N toward the right, and the latter moves that end ofthe spring which is adjacent to it toward the right and compresses thespring between it and the ring K at the other end of the cylinder.Obviously the elastic resistance of the spring tends to return theseseveral parts into the positions shown in Fig. 3 as soon as allowed todo so, and the spring being apowerful one forcibly exerts its power toaccomplish this last-named result.

Thus constructed and combined the operation of my device is as follows:When the eX- pander has fixed the friction-shell to the hub ofbelt-pulley, then if the driving-shaft connected to the expander berotating and rotating in the direction of the arrow S the beltpulleywill start forward. Of course the inertia of the belt-pulley, belt, andall that it operates is to be overcome. At this point the advantages ofmy invention are realized. The friction-shell, through the agency of thearm B3, forces the cylinder D forward. As the belt-pulley A is yieldingmore slowly the cylinder D colnpresses the spring within it and the rodH projects out of the rear end of the cylinder D and passes through theopening R in the arm B3. At the same time the bearing H3 approaches thecylinder D. .As the spring within the cylinder is compressed itsresistance to further compression increases, andit gently but moreforcibly urges the belt-pulley forward. In this way the beltpulley isstarted into motion in a comparatively gentle manner and without jar orinjury to any of the mechanism.

Should the driving-shaft travel in the opposite direction, then when theexpander fixes the friction-shell to the belt-pulley the spring will becompressed in a reverse direction and the distance between the cylinderD and the bearing H3 will be increased. Should the belt-pulley wheelreceive its driving power IOO IIO

through its belt, then when the expander through the friction-shell BiiXes the latter to the shaft, if the belt-wheel be moving in thedirection of the arrow S, the first movement of the belt-pulley will beto draw the bearing H2 away from the cylinder D and compress the springbetween the right-hand end of this cylinder and the flange or abutmenton the free (left hand) end of the rod H, and thus elastically andgently communicate motion to the shaft A in the direction of the arrowS. On the other hand, if the belt-pulleybe moving in a direction thereverse of that in which the arrow S points and the expander fixes theshaft to the friction-shell B the belt-pulley will move the cylinder Dtoward the bearing H2 and compress the spring between the lefthand endof the cylinder and the abutment or shoulder. Thus the shaft will be setin motion gently and without jar. It is also to be observed that in allof these aforementioned instances after the shaft and belt-pulley havebeen started and are running together should any sudden impulse be givento that part which is the driving power-viz., either the shaft orpulley, as the c ase may be the spring mechanism will elasticallyreceive this impulse and neutralize its jar while conimunicating theimpulse to the parts it is rotating. Conversely, should the speed ofrotation of those parts which are driven be for anyreason quicklydiminished the jar which would be imparted to the driving power isgreatly softened and usually altogether neutralized by the intervening`action of the spring;

When desired, the position of the resilient mechanism between the arm ofthe frictionshell and the belt-pulley may be reversed. In such event thebearing H2 will be connected to the arm of the friction-shell and thecylinder D be connected to the belt pulley. Those parts of the shell andof the pulley which are thus connected to the resilient mechanism willbesuitably adapted to receive such connection.

I have shown but one arm and but one spring in the drawings; but I donot wish to limit myself to one set of these devices in connection witha spring-pulley and friction-gear. Onthe contrary, I expect frequentlyto use two or more sets of such devices in connection with a givenpulley. Two of such sets, respectively located at opposite sides of thehub, are desirable, because they counterbalance one another, whereaswhen one set alone is used it has a tendency to draw the pulle out ofbalance.

What I claim as new and of my invention, and desire to secure by LettersPatent, is-

The combination of a friction-shell,a powerwheel having a hub looselymounted on the shell, said shell having a radial projection, acylindrical body, a spring inclosed within said body, and adapted to becompressed according to the direction of the movements of theaforementioned parts, and a rod partially inclosed by said body andattached at one end to the power-wheel and carrying abutments betweenwhich the spring is contained, substantially as and for the purposesspecified.

FRANK VAN DUZEN.

Attest:

J. W. KNAPP, V. E. DOMBAUGH.

